Puzzle



Aug. 24, 1937.

C. R. VAN LUVEN PUZZLE '2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 30, 1955 s- 1937.c. R. v' N LUVEN 2,091,191

PUZZLE Filed Sept. 50, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 24, 1937UNITED STATESB PATENT GFFIQE Application September 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improved puzzle and seeks, among otherobjects, to provide a device of this character which will be formed ofone continuous piece of wire or, if desired, several pieces of wire,bent to define interengaging loops forming an outer elliptical portionand an inner elliptical portion, and having a common center portionabout which is adapted to be received a flexible cord loop at thesolution of the puzzle after manipulation through the loops.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which will becharacterized by simplicity construction but which will require a greatamount of skill and patience for solution.

A further object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which may bemanufactured cheaply and which may be effectually used as an advertisingnovelty, as a premium, or may be sold for a few cents.

Another object of the invention is to provide a puzzle which will belight in weight and which will provide amusement over a long period oftime.

Other and incidental objects of the invention not specifically mentionedin the foregoing will render themselves apparent during the course ofthe following description.

The construction of my improved puzzle and the steps for solving thesame are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view showing my improved puzzle wi'th theflexible cord loop employed passed beneath one of the wire loops,comprising the first step toward the solving of the puzzle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop in position priorto completing the first step, the loop being shown in dotted lines aftersaid first step is completed.

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop prior to thecompletion of the second step, the center portion being omitted for thesake of clearness.

Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the flexible loop after the secondstep has been completed 30, 1935, Serial No. 42,920

ing, in dotted lines, the flexible loop at the completion of the fifthstep.

Figure '7 is a side elevation, with the center portion shown, andillustrating the loop as it would appear during the process ofmanipulation through the sixth step, the loop being shown in dottedlines at the completion of said sixth step.

figure 8 illustrates the loop as it would appear during the manipulationof the final step, and shows, in dotted lines, the loop engaged aboutthe center portion of the puzzle, in which position the puzzle issolved.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional View on the line El9 of Figure 1, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view showing a slightlymodified construction of the center portion.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view, partly brokenaway and shown in section and showing a slightly modified constructionfor connecting the outer ends of the wire loops employed with the centerportion.

Figure 12 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan View showing one of theloops employed flattened for receiving suitable advertising indicia.

Figure 13 is a, fragmentary detail plan View showing a modified centerportion construction.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, whereinlike numerals of reference designate like parts throughout the severalviews, and especially to Figure 1 of the drawings, it will be seen thatmy improved puz zle includes wire loops l, 2, 3 and 5, which aresubstantially elliptical in shape and have end portions extendinglongitudinally diametrically of the puzzle to define a center portion 5.The loops i and 2 are arranged as a pair and are arranged so that theloop normally overhangs,

the loop 2 in substantially concentric relation. The corresponding outerends of each of the loops are tapered and connected, and said pair ofloops l and 2 cooperate with loops 3 and 4, which are arranged in a,similar manner and cross, or interengage, the wires of said loops l and2 to define outer and inner elliptical body portions 6 and l, the innerelliptical portion being substantially oval.

The center portion may merely comprise a group of adjacent wires,forming the end portions of the loops, soldered together, or, as shownin Figure l, a plate 8 containing suitable advertising matter, may beclamped, soldered, or otherwise permanently attached to the centerportion within the area of the inner elliptical body portion. Or, ifdesired, and as shown in Figure 13, the wires 5 may be spread apart andattached to the outer edges of the plate 8.

As illustrated in the drawings, the loops are adapted to interengage andhave their larger end portions lying in substantially overhangingrelationship at opposite sides of the center portion. As will beunderstood, each of the loops at opposite sides of the center portion,has its narrower portion extending in the same direction and terminatingto define a pointed end 9 for the outer elliptical portion while theloops lying in overhanging relationship at opposite sides of the centerportion at the other end of the puzzle, have their smaller portionsextending in the opposite direction and terminating in a blunt pointiii. If it is desired that the length of the puzzle be shorter, the ends9 and it may be turned inwardly instead of outwardly.

Ihe meeting end portions of the wires defining the points ii and iii aresoldered or otherwise socured so that all of the loops of the puzzlewill be maintained in proper operative relationship.

Associated with the puzzle, and forming a part necessary for thesolution thereof, is a. flexible cord ll having a knot 52 thereon. Theloop it may be formed of soft cord or any other suitable flexiblematerial.

As seen in Figure 10 of the drawings, the end portions of the loops 5,2, 3 and 5 may be cut off at the point 8 and a one-piece center portion!3 substituted for the wire center portion. 5. The center portion 23includes a r latively wide flat late it which is adapted to receivethereon indicia in the form of advertising or other suit able printed orstamped matter. The end portions of the loops are soldered or otherwisesecured to the opposite ends of the center per- 0 tion it.

In Figure 11, I have shown a center portion !5 which is provided with. asocket l%, which socket is adapted to receive therein a pair of endportions El or loops which are identical in construction with the loopsi, 2, 3 and d. It should be understood, however, that a center portionof any suitable design may be employed so long as it is disposed in thesame position with respect to the loops, that is to say, extendinglongitudinally of the puzzle and between the loops of each pair of loopsdefining the inner ellipse of said puzzle.

The object of the puzzle is to manipulate the flexible cord loop l Ifrom a point entirely exteriorly of the puzzle to engagement about thecenter portion within the confines of the inner elliptical body portionof said puzzle without, at any time, breaking and retying the cord loop.

I have shown the process of solving the puzzle step by step and will nowexplain said process.

As seen in Figure l of the drawings, the knot ll.

of the loop ii is inserted beneath the loop I toward the right andbetween said loop and the upper surface of the center portion and,holding the puzzle in the left hand, the loop is pulled toward the rightwith its entire length, with the exception of the knot l2 and upper endof the cord loop ll, extending exteriorly of the body portions. Half ofthe cord is left depending and all of the slack is taken to the right,as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The next step is to grasp the knot l2 in the hand and carry it downtoward the right over the right end and place it between the loop ii andthe center portion and draw to the right, as shown in Figure 3. The knoti2 is then shifted toward the left back up over the right end, as shownin Figure 3, and looped through the loop 3, as shown in Figure 3, indotted lines. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the knot I2 is again carriedover the right end and downward to the loop 4, through said loop to theleft, all slack being taken up, and again shifted up over the left endto the loop 5 and under the loop I again to the left. The knot is thencarried down over the left end, as shown in Fi ure 5, and is broughtdown to the loop 2 and put through said loop to the left. All the slackis drawn up and the knot is shifted up over the left end to the loop iand through said loop to the right, taking up all slack to the right,and down over the right and to the loop i. The knot is then put throughthe loop 3 to the right and is carried over the right end at a ninetydegree angle so that the loop encompasses or surrounds the centerportion 5 and thus solves the puzzle.

In order to remove the flexible cord loop II with the knot 92 from thecenter portion 5, it is necessary but to reverse the steps hereinabovedescribed, when it will be found that the loop may be easily removedfrom the puzzle without the necessity of breaking the loop.

It should be understood that, while I have shown the puzzle as beingelliptical in shape, it may be rectangular or circular, or any othersuitable design. In a circular form I would employ a relatively largecenter plate.

It is thought that a reading of the foregoing description will clearlyindicate that I have provided a puzzle which will give a great deal ofpleasure to those seeking enjoyment from devices of this type.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

A puzzle including a single strand of wire bent to define loopsinterengaging for forming substantially elliptical inner and outer bodyportions, said loops having extended ends disposed in engaging parallelrelation to form a common center portion for the body portions, aflexible cord loop adapted to be positioned about the center portionwithin the area of the body portions at the solution of the puzzle aftermanipulation through the first-mentioned loops, and a plate adapted forcarrying suitable advertising indicia, said plate serving to retain theportions defining the common center portion in close relation.

COURTLAND R. VAN LUVEN.

